The Rest of the Story

In my last entry I told the story of Patrick Hamilton, the first martyr of Scotland. I showed you his initials which are in the walkway marking the spot where he was burned at the stake. I spoke about how overwhelming it was to stand there and consider the significance of what happened at that very spot.

How do the locals respond to the historical significance of this location? Do they quietly pass by showing respect? Do they stop for a time of self-examination and prayer? Hardly! The initials of Patrick Hamilton are right outside of the campus of the University of St. Andrews. Hundred's of college students walk by these initials every day. The student's have reduced these initials to a matter of superstitious ritual. The belief is that if you want to graduate you must avoid stepping on the initials of Patrick Hamilton. What? Of course others (the more rebellious type) purposefully step on the initials out of contempt for the superstitious tradition. So the intellectuals at the university have reduced the significance of this historic location down to the level of "step on a crack and break your mother's back." It is doubtful if many of the students could tell you very much about Patrick Hamilton or the significance of his life and death.

So what have the "Christians" done in light of Hamilton's legacy? Well, right across the street from the initials stands the Martyrs Church. This looked interesting and even promising so I ventured across the street to get a closer look. What I saw is what you see pictured above (You can click on the picture to make it bigger). You'll notice that the Martyrs Church is pastored by the Rev. Dr. J. Mary Henderson. A woman pastor. We've come a long way, baby! This is a blatant disregard of the clear teaching of Scripture regarding the roles of men and women in the church. And you can imagine that this is not the only compromise that this church has made with the truth. This reflects the watered down, mushy Christianity practiced by so many today. We disregard the Scripture and we accomodate the culture. This is just a guess but I doubt that the Rev. Dr. will ever have her initials put in the sidewalk.

You can imagine the emotional swing I experienced just by walking from one side of the street to the other. You know what? We need more Patrick Hamiltons today. We need believers who will stand up for the truth and willingly make what ever sacrifice is necessary. Patrick Hamilton was gripped by the truth of the gospel. Patrick Hamilton was compelled by the love of His Savior. I want my life to be moved by the things that matter.